Imelda Staunton is glad she gained success at an older age because it means she could build her life in England.

The 55-year-old actress - who was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in 'Vera Drake' in 2004 - says if she had been as well-established at a younger age she would have felt pressurised to go to the US but is glad that she now has a home and family in the UK instead of a backlog of Hollywood movies on her resume.

She said: "If it had happened earlier, I'd have thought, 'Right, I've got to go to America'. But my life and work is here."

However, the 'Harry Potter' star did learn the hard way how much she hates being away from her loved ones, when she decided to film 'Taking Woodstock' in America two years ago and vowed never to work away from home again.

The actress - who is married to actor Jim Carter with whom she has a 17-year-old daughter Bessie - explained: "It was eight weeks of filming. And it was absolutely unbearable being away from my family. We've been married 27 years and that's the longest we've ever been apart.

"I thought, 'OK. Done that. Don't ever want to do it again, thank you.' I'd much rather be here doing a nice radio series."